What Bends/Breaks First :) Stump pushing or pulling...

[nanuk]

heavy chain over a larger log is a great idea for pulling short stumps

and pull from the drawbar.

recoil is not really an issue with chain, but I'd still drape a HEAVY coat over the chain a few feet from the tractor

Go slow, and take several attempts at it to loosen. I usually roll the tractor into the pull with the clutch in. Stops you fast, but won't hammer the gears

I watched a guy who rolled into the chain, then back up and ram the stump with the drawbar, then roll into the chain again. took awhile but appeared to be low stress on the tractor

being jackpine, and only 12" diameter, the roots CAN get extensive, but not usually so. But I have seen stumps from blowdown well over 5ft diameter with a 12" dia stump

take it slow, use common sense

 

[RoyJackson]

recoil is not really an issue with chain, but I'd still drape a HEAVY coat over the chain a few feet from the tractor

take it slow, use common sense

Best thing I've ever heard of is to use an old fire hose (doesn't have to be water tight) to sheath the chain or cable. Defintely reduces springback.

 

[doddsjzi]

I once tried breaking the roots on a stump with a 3-point-mounted plow--not a subsoiler-- and quickly learned the importance of having the pulling point below the axle. Currently I'm removing stumps, most freshly cut but some old; maximum diameter 15"; mostly water oak and black cherry, but some live oak (tough!) and yellow pine. The tricky thing on yellow pine is a very strong taproot. I've been using a backhoe on a Massey-Ferguson 1635, and it's a good deal easier and more certain than trying to pull them. Doesn't take exceptionally long--most of the process is repeatedly tearing at the roots until they break. Longest I've spent was one hour for 2 water oaks, a cherry and a 4X4 all clustered together. I am working in sandy soil. Another option for cutting stubborn roots once the dirt is pretty much cleared away is to use a Sawzall with an aggressively-toothed blade.

 

[Mad Mac]

It sounds like you want to do it yourself, but I've seen a mulching head on a tracked skid steer in action. It does a beautiful job incredibly fast. Afterwards, it will not be necessary to wad up and burn the stumps because they will be shredded into mulch. Burning can be a problem depending on location, burn bans (for example the state of Texas). Good luck with your project.

 

[Iowachild]

I removed this stump by digging, with a pick and shovel, all the way around and cutting off the roots with an axe. It took pulling with my truck and pushing with my B2320 to get the stump to where I could pressure wash off enough dirt and clay to flip the stump over and remove the rest of the dirt and clay. It was then easy to drag the stump the 200 yards to my stump pile with my tractor. BTW The stump is eastern hemlock about 30" in diameter.

 

[doddsjzi]

THAT is a stump!

 

[toxicjeeper]

Thumbs on on that stump!..attaBoy!

 

[cwadsgo]

Ouestion James, Would you mind describing the tool you refer to as a maul, that you have to sharpen from time to time..
Thanks, Cwadsgo ( Claude )

 

[k0ua]

Ouestion James, Would you mind describing the tool you refer to as a maul, that you have to sharpen from time to time..
Thanks, Cwadsgo ( Claude )

they say a picture is worth a thousand words, see the picture, but in case you cannot open the
document, think 8 pound sledgehammer with one end sharpened like an axe but not quite as sharp, usually used for splitting wood manually by hand the old fashioned way. Or google splitting maul






James K0UA

 

[flusher]

Thanks Roy...didn't think of that...I guess because I have never owned and/or operated a tractor

Just out of curiosity...how do you "link" the chain to the stump? Does this require part of the stump lifting so you can wrap under the stump?

Thanks...TMR

Here's how I removed some old stumps in my almond orchard with my 1964 Massey Ferguson 135 diesel (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto, ~33 hp drawbar). Those big rear tires are loaded with water for increased traction.



No way I could pull that stump without a lot of preliminary digging and cutting the horizontal roots with an ax or chain saw. Even with that preparation, I had to jerk it a few times to loosen it and then I could extract the stump with a continuous pull.

Be careful when pulling stumps with the drawbar. Search the Safety form on TBN for tractor flipping threads--there is a long recent thread on this subject.